Get the core courses you need to complete an undergraduate degree at UMGC Asia.
Within your academic major or specialized curricula, UMGC's degree programs incorporate core and program-specific competencies known as general education requirements.
These requirements are for students who enroll in the 2020–2021 academic year. For prior year academic requirements, visit our catalog archive.
General Education Requirements for Bachelor's Degrees
Total: 41 Credits
Any course that may be applied toward a general education requirement is considered a general education elective. Credit applied to general education requirements may not also be applied toward major, minor, or elective requirements. Courses applied to meet general education requirements may not be taken pass/fail.
Research and Computing Literacy | 7 Credits
- Professional and Career Exploration course (3 credits), which should preferably be taken within the first 6 credits; the following courses apply:
- Program and Career Exploration in Business (3 Credits, PACE 111B)
- Program and Career Exploration in Communication/Humanities (3 Credits, PACE 111C)
- Program and Career Exploration in Multidisciplinary Studies (3 Credits, PACE 111M)
- Program and Career Exploration in Public Safety (3 Credits, PACE 111P)
- Program and Career Exploration in Health and Sciences (3 Credits, PACE 111S)
- Program and Career Exploration in Technology (3 Credits, PACE 111T)
- Introduction to Research (1 Credit, LIBS 150), Career Planning Management (1 Credit, CAPL 398A), or a one-credit general education elective
- One course in computing or information technology (3 credits)
- Unless otherwise specified, courses designated CMIS, CMIT, CMSC, CMST, CSIA, IFSM, and SDEV, along with Accounting Information Systems (3 Credits, ACCT 326), apply.
Communication | 12 Credits
No more than 3 credits in writing may be earned through credit by examination.
- Academic Writing I (3 Credits, WRTG 111) or another writing course (3 credits) chosen from the following:
- All 3-credit WRTG courses (except WRTG 288, WRTG 388, Workplace Learning in Writing (3 Credits, WRTG 486A), or WRTG 486B)
- Writing for Managers (3 Credits, COMM 390)
- COMM 492
- Composition and Literature (3 Credits, ENGL 102)
- Introduction to News Writing (3 Credits, JOUR 201)
- Academic Writing II (3 Credits, WRTG 112)
Must be completed with a grade of C- or better within the first 24 credits. May not be earned through Prior Learning (Portfolio or Course Challenge) assessment. - A course in communication, writing, or speech (3 credits) chosen from the following:
- All 3-credit COMM, SPCH, and WRTG courses (except those numbered 486A and 486B)
- Composition and Literature (3 Credits, ENGL 102)
- Standard English Grammar (3 Credits, ENGL 281)
- Introduction to News Writing (3 Credits, JOUR 201)
- An upper-level advanced writing course (3 credits) chosen from the following:
Mathematics | 3 Credits
Must be completed within the first 24 credits. A prerequisite is required for Trigonometry and Analytical Geometry (3 Credits, MATH 108), Calculus I (4 Credits, MATH 140), and any higher-numbered MATH or STAT courses. Check individual majors for recommended math courses and related requirements.
- One 3-credit course chosen from the following:
Arts and Humanities | 6 Credits
- Two 3-credit courses chosen from the following courses and disciplines:
- Any ARTH, ARTT, GRCO, HIST, HUMN, MUSC, PHIL, THET, dance, literature, or foreign language course
- An ASTD course (depending on course content)
- Any ENGL course, with the exception of Standard English Grammar (3 Credits, ENGL 281) and Advanced Grammar and Style (3 Credits, ENGL 384)
Behavioral and Social Sciences | 6 Credits
- Two 3-credit courses chosen from the following courses and disciplines:
- Introduction to African American Studies (3 Credits, AASP 201)
- Any ANTH, BEHS, ECON, GEOG, GVPT, PSYC, or SOCY course
- An ASTD course (depending on course content)
- Introduction to Criminal Justice (3 Credits, CCJS 100)
- Introduction to Criminology (3 Credits, CCJS 105)
- Juvenile Delinquency (3 Credits, CCJS 350)
- Victimology (3 Credits, CCJS 360)
- Psychology of Criminal Behavior (3 Credits, CCJS 461)
- Any GERO course, with the exception of GERO 342 and GERO 351
- Introduction to Women's Studies: Women and Society (3 Credits, WMST 200)
Biological and Physical Sciences | 7 Credits
- A science lecture course (3 credits) with related laboratory course (1 credit) or a science course combining lecture and laboratory (4 credits)
- Any other science course (3 credits)
Courses from the following disciplines may satisfy both requirements: ASTR, BIOL, CHEM, GEOL, NSCI, NUTR, or PHYS. Science courses in other disciplines may also satisfy these requirements.